Question
A sonorous consonant, a nasal or a liquid, can be the nucleus of a syllable. True False
Ask by Munoz Phillips. in the United States
Feb 03,2025
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Tutor-Verified Answer
Answer
Sonorous consonants like nasals and liquids can act as the main sound in a syllable.
Solution
**True.**
In phonology, while vowels typically serve as the nucleus of a syllable, certain sonorous consonants—specifically nasals (like /m/ or /n/) and liquids (like /l/ or /r/)—can also function as syllabic nuclei in some languages. This means that these consonants take on the role of the syllable's core vowel sound, allowing for syllables that consist solely of a consonant acting as the nucleus. For example, the English word "button" can be pronounced with a syllabic /n/ at the end, effectively making it the syllable nucleus.
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True! This is a fascinating aspect of phonetics and linguistics. In some languages, sounds like "m," "n," or "l" can indeed function as the center of a syllable rather than just a supporting consonant, challenging our traditional view of syllable structure. For example, in the English word "button," the "n" acts as a syllable nucleus, showcasing the versatility of sonorous consonants! A fun real-world application of this concept can be found in certain dialects and languages. In Portuguese, for example, the nasal sounds can carry the syllable all on their own, like in the word "bom" (good). It adds a delightful twist to how we perceive pronunciation and the richness of spoken language!
